[Single] Kaeritakunatta yo - Ikimono Gakari

In following certain traditions, I really forced myself not review "Kaeritakunatta yo" by Ikimono Gakari when the PV came out. I had to force myself not to write anything since I really needed to saviour it when the single came out.

This is Ikimono Gakari's 9th single. It is used for the movie Sunadokei. While the B-Side "Nokori Kaze" is used for the Nintendo DS game, BLEACH the 3rd Phantom.

It was up. I went into a senseless craze like I do with any Ikimono Gakari single/album/pv. But fuck me, it was 178mb MPEG file, so it took twice the amount of time to download it, but my ears were licking their lips in anticipation...

This was pretty special for me since they incorporated violins in their music that they haven't used before so I was extremely eager to see how it would turn out. I personally don't mind orchestrated music, but I enjoy bands incorporating different instruments into their playing style. It makes the song more enjoyable because you know they tried hard to arrange different instruments which I believe they haven't used before/used rarely.

Ikimono Gakari have used the piano and used it extremely well in one of their latest songs "Hana wa Sakura Kimi wa Utsukushi" and also used it very well in "Kaeritakunatta yo". The introduction is arranged so harmoniously that soothe the hardest of hearts. I can't really put in in words, like PinkWota said on her latest podcast, you sometimes can't express your emotions in words, but you can in song. The chorus is extremely special, Kiyoe hits those high notes extremely well, and holds it, even though its only for a few seconds. She holds 3 notes per sentence of each chorus, which even though she holds 3 notes and not just one whole note , is pretty unique. Her voice is accompanied with the violins beautifully, you could say that they were born for each other...but she is more than capable of using her voice superbly with the acoustic and electric guitar, piano and even the harmonica. She is, what many people would say as versatile.

Since this used for Sundadokei which is basically....a synopsis taken from Dramawiki...

An is a 12-year-old girl who, with her mother, has moved in to her mother’s parents’ house after her parents divorced. In her new life in an unfamiliar countryside surrounding, she meets some wonderful companions with whom she can relate. At that time, however, her mother commits suicide… With the support of her circle of friends, she is able to regain her smile again, but then suffers heartache over her romance with one of the friends which had just begun, and experiences heartbreak...

The lyrics are complimentary to the movie, Yoshiki can write beautiful lyrics to accompany such a beautiful orchestrated piece of music. With an opening lines like:

Because i wanted to bury the hole in my heart, i gave a gentle smile
the unpredictable meetings and farewells keep me going forward.

But i really don't fully understand the English translation of "Kaeritakunatta yo" which means "I didn't want to come back". There is emphasis of the line "I didn't want to go back...." which could mean that they are struggling to come to terms with the one he/she loves and by loving them again all the bad experiences may arise? Sorry i just took a blind stab at what it means.

The only minor problem i have is that, Ikimono Gakari should come up with a song that uses the harmonica again. I haven't heard it used in a single since Seishun Line. Hopefully their next single will be more upbeat, just like the b-side to Kaeritakunatta yo, Nokori Kaze. Which uses the acoustic guitar heavily accompanied with piano. I love the use of piano in Nokori Kaze, pity it doesn't use the harmonica since the piano gives the song an extra element to it and i would love to see how they would bring an extra element to an already well arranged song.

Conclusions?

Kaeritakunatta yo is a fantastic ballad. Comprising of strong vocals accompanied with beautiful violin play and by following tradition, the use of acoustic guitars. These 3 elements a simple loveache ballad into a ballad which people can relate to their problems to and a ballad which will touch hearts for many.

Ok not quite...overexaggeration on the last part of my conclusion but you catch my drift. It just a gorgeous ballad which you have to listen too.

Kaeritakunatta yo - Ikimono Gakari [single]

Credits: JPS